Corallina officinalis c. 1843 - 1853

Anna Atkins created this photogram of Corallina officinalis, or coral weed, using cyanotype, an early photographic printing process. The cyanotype process involves placing objects directly onto light-sensitive paper and exposing it to sunlight, creating a silhouette effect. Here, the delicate structure of the seaweed is rendered in precise detail against a deep blue background. The cyanotype printing method, accessible and relatively inexpensive, was embraced by Atkins as a means of documenting botanical specimens. In this case, her process speaks to the intersection of art, science, and technology in the 19th century. Atkins was not only an artist but also a botanist, and this work embodies a blend of scientific observation and artistic expression. By employing this method of direct contact and light exposure, she blurred the lines between traditional art and scientific documentation. The act of making itself becomes a form of knowledge production, elevating the status of craft within the realm of scientific inquiry.